VEDA’S

JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL) Vol.5 Issue 4

An International Peer Reviewed Journal 2018
http://www.joell.in

RESEARCH ARTICLE

STYLISTICS IN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Riya Rana
(Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University, India.)

ABSTRACT
Language as we all know is an important or should I say an indispensable
tool for human communication as it is through language that knowledge is
transferred, meaning is created and understood ensuring social as well as
scientific development of human society. It’s true not only for speech but also in
writing, both being two of the most potential uses of language. After becoming
a university subject in 1960s English language has being the target of literary
critics. They have accused the linguists for being too dry when it comes to
analysis of a piece of writing. And the linguists have accused the literary
scholars for being to subjective, imaginative unambiguous for the same task.
To bridge the differences or the gap between the two, stylistics a branch
of applied linguistics functions to analyse the use of language literary texts.
However it's not limited to the study of literature alone but is also stretched to
varieties of writings like texts related to media and journalism, the
advertisements etc. This paper is an attempt to explore the link between
language and its most creative use that is Literature. Through this paper I aim to
show the features of language and creative uses under which these forms are
put to appeal to human senses and make a piece of literature alive whether it's
romance, tragedy or comedy.

Keywords: Style, Language, Literature, Linguistics, Stylistic Analysis.

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article Copyright © 2018 VEDA Publications
Author(s) agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License 4.0 International License .
13 Riya Rana
 VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL) Vol.5 Issue 4
An International Peer Reviewed Journal 2018
http://www.joell.in

INTRODUCTION and made suitable for a scientific investigation. He

Linguistics is the scientific study of language exemplifies is by the term "madness” which in
and all the literature exists in language. Any literary medical science is also referred to as "mental illness"
text can be used, dealt with, worked upon, (69). The two terms are quite interchangeable in
understood or taught and can be exposed to various ordinary use but what make them different is the
activities through an understanding of the language altitude and the tone behind each one of them. An
in which it is written. There is a need to emphasize ordinary term of language can be used for literary
the urgency of studying language and literature in the (scholarly) purpose when in case of "... strict dualism
light of one another because "..... linguists have been in which the word indicates a split off meaning and
mistaken for an inadequacy of the linguistic science manner or that... in which meaning is split into two
itself. All of us... definitely realize that a linguist deaf separable kinds of meanings " [69]. According to J.M
to the poetic function of language and literary scholar Ellis " Style is in fact in ordinary language a way of
in different to linguistic problems and unconversant avoiding those areas of the meaning of a word which
with linguistic methods are equally flagrant” [ are not considered essential to the speaker's
Jakobson 337 ] dominant purpose" [ 73 ]. To put it clearly, two
Statistics on the other hand then can be words might be synonyms, replaceable and might
defined as the process of the analysis of the literary even refer to the same thing but at the same time
texts that begins with the assumption that the might have different meanings. This difference is
processes involved in the interpretation of a literary marked by the "... the difference of attitude on the
text linguistically oriented in nature. part of the speaker and by the different classification
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND of the phenomenon..." [ 70 ]. One of the examples
-LITERATURE used by Ellis is the use of phrases "you can go now"
Language serves as a pathway for the " and " get out" ( 72 ) both the phrases are asking the
systematic teaching " [ Widdowson .82 ) of linguistics listener to leave but the choice of words has changed
and literature. Since literature is constructed through what the listener should understand about the mood,
language, stylistics a branch of linguistics, acts as a intention of the speaker and his or her position in the
link between the two complementary disciplines of context. The expressions used by the writer or author
linguistics and literature. Through the process of are driven by the "... unique context of purpose, not
stylistically analyzing a text it becomes easier to because of their identity of meaning..." [72 ]. Ellis
analyse text within linguistic framework. It was further compares literary texts to speech by saying
abilities the development of critical appreciation and that "... Literary texts are not limited speech acts with
interpretative skills as well as reading a crude purpose; they are notoriously complex in
comprehension. their verbal structure and are not able to have
Language use in various cultural contexts ascribed to them any simple statement of their
can be understood through literature. On the other purpose... The concept of style then becomes more
hand preacher serves as a creative canvas on which and more inappropriate as we move from ordinary
diverse and colourful uses, aspects of language can discourse to the study of language and finally to the
be painted. The analytical study of literature through study of literature; it is precisely it's limited
the scientific lens of language refers to stylistics. Its appropriateness in ordinary discourse which
disciplinary boundaries fall between the ones of demonstrates its complete inappropriateness and
linguistics and literature. literary study “[73].
Another definition of style refers to it as an
STYLISTICS
“elusive phenomenon " in literature and that "... it is
J.M Ellis puts forward that the concept of
a concept which, the widely used and multifariously
stylistics finds its origin in what is considered as "...
defined, yet evades precision..." [Enkvist et al. 59 ].
ordinary and unreflective language "(67). Elaborating
This is because style is an abstract concept because it
further he has emphasized the urgency of treating
is not a holistic identity of literature which means
this ordinary time so that it could be “tightened up "

14 Riya Rana
 VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL) Vol.5 Issue 4
An International Peer Reviewed Journal 2018
http://www.joell.in

how literature can be solely defined. It is one of the important during text analysis as they present various
many qualities of literature. Works of literature emotional states of mind on paper. These elements
consist of so many aspects, concepts than style. It enable readers to view a literary piece through the
derives its abstractness in the sense that aspects of lens of objectivity while appearing to their subjective
style and not literature as a whole consists of the senses. The subjective analysis refers to the
experience, repertoire, choice, thought of the writer - evaluative and inferential study that is reading
the one who has designed that piece of literature. It between and beyond the line to comprehend a text
is the individuality that a literary text acquires that is such as the purpose of the author, theme for moral
referred to as style. behind the literary piece. This method of studying a
Style is also influenced by language text is called stylistic analysis. It enables a reader to
because the fact that literature is a product, a sum refer to a text in a critical manner. The term stylistic
total of the creative but appropriate use of language approach refers to the method followed by educators
can not be denied. Since language used is influenced to design activities involving stylisticl analysis of a
by social and cultural patterns of thought of rhetoric text [Fakeye & Temitayo 51 ]. A literary piece of text
and that these patterns differ with time periods and is viewed as a communicative discourse [Gonzales &
societies. Therefore one has to look beyond Flores 3]. The stylistic approach aims to locate
literature. This is so because of "... the fact that linguistic features of a literary piece of text and find
language, the medium of literature, is not confined the meaning through these features. In the light of
to literature alone. Indeed it is the medium which this approach, the choice of vocabulary, grammatical
carries the whole of the culture of which the features, structural aspects and other rhetorical
literature is one aspect" [.60 ]. Therefore while aspects are studied to decode a text's meaning.
conducting the stylistic analysis the language used Therefore the stylistic effects are important
and language functions should be considered along for the study of literature and thus cannot be
with the literary texts. rejected. Style, a term which has its roots in ordinary
LITERARY TEXTS AND STYLISTICS language and whose function is to sideline other
An understanding of the science of meanings of an expression so that the concerned or
linguistics enables a reader to intuitively find the required meaning appropriate to the context could
meaning of the text that he or she is reading. be emphasized, should then be investigated because
Structures of language aid in understanding literature the 'other meanings' of an expression highlight the
through language. Language therefore give structure, significance of the meaning that is to be concerned
organization, a pattern to a text whereas literature through their negligence. This is referred to as a
gives it creative meaning, substance and "sophisticated confusion" which is intensified by the
unusualness. So the content and art of the author ample number of definitions and statements
flows smoothly through language. attempting to explain what style really means [ Ellis
Stylstics is comprehensive and 4]. To this Ellis suggests "... We should not speak of
interdisciplinary in nature and paves a way between the statistic function of a linguistic item but, instead
the study of features substance and the rules of text of its precise function; nor of the style as a piece of
analysis between aesthetics, linguistics, psychology language but instead of its precise meaning and
and literature. It can be defined as the style of effect" [75]. Therefore in the linguistic study of
expression, a method of putting things in a certain literature a linguistic structure should be studied in
way while keeping a certain purpose in mind. It can relation to its combination with other linguistic
be used to teach students the language features of features and in reference with the entire text. Such a
literary text which would further facilitate teaching of process follows an investigative insight with in
English literature. It can also serve as a method to linguistic literary study of a text. The linguistic study
master or understand linguistic concepts. therefore can be understood as the study of forms
The elements of style namely syntax, and vocabulary of a language as in addition to the
phonology, graphology, semantics and others are structural analysis of texts. the first one is concerned

15 Riya Rana
 VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL) Vol.5 Issue 4
An International Peer Reviewed Journal 2018
http://www.joell.in

with the form and functions of the structural aspects SYNTAX

of language and is referred to as analytic linguistics. Through the sentence constructions found
The second one is called synthetic linguistics as it in a text like phrases, clauses and other types of
deals with the textual meaning and language sentences the readers understand the thought
functions. If a text is to be analyzed linguistically then process, nature and feelings of the characters. Not
it structures and that text itself should be analyzed in only we get an idea about the characters but also
both ways ,that is in combination and in isolation to about the writer's thinking, his or her understanding
each other. Hence the study of literature becomes a of the various experiences portrayed in a text on the
part of synthetic linguistics. Literary criticism is basis of functions. There are types of sentences in
however does not mean analyzing the form and English language according to the functional aspect
function of the linguistic structures of a text in such as declarative, imperative, exclamatory and
isolation. This is so because "... isolation of linguistic interrogative. On the basis of structure sentences can
features of a literary text is a pointless exercise in be compound, elliptical , complex and simple
analytic linguistics... It is a strangely incomplete job of sentence. According to the significance of content
synthetic linguistics..." [ Enkvist et al 77 ] sentences in English language can be divided into
When a text is referred to in terms of its periodic, loose and parallel sentence. Other than that
"objective simplicity" of meaning as a mere chain of types of phrases like noun phrase over phrase are
symbols on paper then a linguist not only reads the also a part of stylistic effect found in a text. While
text which means what he or she says on printed stylistically analyzing a text The Reader or the author
paper but they also look "...through the text to its himself should carefully go through the entire text to
significance..."[ Leech & Short 4 ]. Therefore stylistic locate, record the most frequent sentence types on
analysis refers to seeping in through the text with the basis of function and structure, phrases and
one layer at a time. The analyst while critically vocabulary. Such activity not only gives information
looking at a text, should stylistically look for merits about the stylistic effect but also signal towards the
and demerits of the text in question. This is so writer's thinking process.
because while evaluating a piece of literature the RHETORIC
critic should not be driven, convinced or frustrated by A grammatical style brings out the clarity in
its fallacies usually projected to highlight the effect a text then rhetoric effects make writing persuasive,
and unusualness of a context. vivid and clear. figures of speech like metaphor,
FEATURES OF STYLISTICALLY ANALYZING A personification, metonymy, simile, irony and so on
TEXT provide a connotative meaning to the text and events
DICTION along with an aesthetic and psychological
Words when used in a text become more implication. While rhetorically analyzing a text a
than their dictionary and their literal meaning. There reader should carefully analyse the discourse
is always a consequent contextual meaning attached structure and rhetorical devices prevalent in the text.
to the words used. Stylistically analyzing a text refers Discourse and rhetoric compliment each other
to the exploration of this mutual relationship. While therefore one should be studied and analyzed in the
reading a text the reader should first try to know who light of another.
is the author of the text, who is the designer of the CONCLUSION
plot, theme and characters. Another important Literary language is appealing in the sense
feature should be the theme of the text in the light of that it serves as a tool to manifest the thinker's mind
questions like is the theme specific or general ?, what on paper through words and sentences. Stylistics
grammatical features are used in the text ?, what then serves as link that connects the writer's mind to
kind of phrases or sentences are used ?, what is the the minds of the reader. It is therefore a
level of language of the text ?, is the language local, methodology that should be utilized to train the
standard, non - standard or rustic ?. All such answers students to look beyond the text. It can also be used
in tale indications to the writer's writing style. in the teaching of language, here English language

16 Riya Rana
 VEDA’S
JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL) Vol.5 Issue 4
An International Peer Reviewed Journal 2018
http://www.joell.in

through its literature. Stylistics also serves as an

effective tool to teach language and literature by
developing the learners' or readers' sensitivity,
awareness to identify certain linguistic patterns,
literary devices used in the text. Such activities
enable the students to acquire language in a much
more proficient manner and makes the readers to
appreciate the text. The rhetoric of a culture, the
philosophy behind it can also be understood by the
study of literature and language in a way which
compliments both of them. Stylistic analysis then
becomes significant is it is useful in decoding certain
socio-cultural codes. It also serves as a potential
method to understand nuances of literature and the
role of linguistics at various levels. Apart from
providing an opportunity for aesthetic appreciation it
can also be utilized as a great tool to learn the art of
self expression, especially in creative writing.

REFERENCES

[1]. Ellis, M.J., ( 1970 ). Linguistics , literature and the

concept of style. Word, 26 ( 1 ) , 65 - 78 , doi :
10.1080/00437956.1970.11435581
[2]. Enkvist, E.N., et al. ( 1964 ). Language and learning :
Linguistics and style. Oxford University Press, Amen
House : London
[3]. Fakeye,D., and Temitayo, A. ( 2013 ). Enhancing poetic
literature instructions through stylistic and themaic
approaches. Studies in Literature and language, 6 ( 2) ,
50 - 55
[4]. Gonzales, W. and Flores, E. ( 2016 ). Stylistics in the
Southeast Asian ESL or EFL classrooms : A collection of
potential of teaching activities. TESOL International
Journal, 11 ( 1 ), 96 - 107
[5]. Jakobson, R. (1960). Closing Statement: Linguistics and
Poetics. In Sebeok, Thomas A., ed. Style in Language.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
[6]. Jeffries, L. and McIntyre, D. (2010.) Stylistics.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
[7]. Widdowson, H. ( 1975 ). Stylistics : An approach to
stylistic analysis. In J..J Webber ( Eds ), The stylistic
reader. Great Britain : St. Martin's s Press, Inc.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Riya Rana is a PhD student at , Department
of English, Faculty of Arts, Aligarh Muslim University.
She is pursuing her research in ELT and the title of
her thesis is 'Writing and identity among ESL learners;
A discourse perspective' .

17 Riya Rana